Folding lap board



6 6 R, W O W 1 Z 1 t p ew 1 g 1: E a 5 o M I. i Z l. Q m m m May 30, 1933.

i atentetl May 30, 1933 HENRY HARRISON, OF CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA FOLDING LAP BOARD Application filed January 29, 1931. Serial No. 512,073.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in lap boards or tables, which are particularly adapted for use by students using one or more books or similar articles, or for the use of such book or books with writing accessories.

In order to illustrate one method of using the new device, and for which said device has been particularly designed, reference is made to the study of the well-known daily lessons in Christian Science, wherein use is made of three books, namely a Christian Science Quarterly (Bible Lessons) a Bible and a Christian Science textbook.

In such case, the first book is supported in relatively upright position and its pages are held open at the proper place, while the other books may be opened and their leaves turned at will and independently of each other, usually alternating between the two books.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which comprises a base portion upon which one or more books may rest, the laterally opposite ends of said base being operative to partially receive a book cover and prevent the bookfroin sliding therefrom, the near-side edge portion of said 30 base comprising a flange operative to prevent such book or books from sliding in that direction from sald base, whlle the opposlte or far end of the base is also provided with a flange operative to limit possible movement of the books in that direction, and in turn provided with a pivotally mounted auxiliary holder or support operative to maintain still another book in extended open position and in relatively upright easy-reading position,

said holder being movable when the device is not in use to a relatively flat position substantially parallel with said base, and in such position being operative to further maintain the first-mentioned book or books against said base, the lower flanged portion of said pivoted extension being operative to still further limit the movement of said last-mentioned books towards said rear flange.

With the objects of the invention thus broadly stated, the invention comprises further details of construction and operation which are fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in operative position showing three open books in place; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a vertical trans verse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the preferred construction of the device is formed of relatively thin, light weight, sheet metal, and comprises in the first place a planular base portion 1, longer from side to side than from front to rear and terminating at its lateral ends in reversely turned flanges 2 and 3, spaced from the adjacent base portion and in parallel relation therewith, said flanges being adapted to receive beneath them the free edge portions of cover boards 4 and 5 of books 6 and 7, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1'. Within said flanges may be secured strips 8 of preferably soft rubber for the purpose of protecting the edges of said cover boards or the exposed portlons of page markers (not shown) which when used might also enter beneath said flanges.

The forward edge portion of said base is turned upwardly to provide a flange 9 against which books may rest whenever the device is tilted into a forwardly and downwardly slanting position. The rearward edge portion is also provided with a flange 10, preferably of greater height than the forward flange, and said rearward flange at its free edge is reversely turned or otherwise shaped to provide a pivotal or hinge connection 11 for a bracket 12, in this instance comprising a wire element, the cen-. tral portion of which extends through'said hinge, while its opposite ends extend freely therefrom and are bent upwardly and towards each other to form fixed connections 13 for an angular flange portion 14 of an auxiliarybook support 15, the laterally opposite end portions of which are in turn bent reversely towards each other to form flanges l6, beneath which are adapted to normally loosely extend the opposite edge portions of a book or booklet 17, so that pages may be turned without removing the book therefrom.

The operative position of the device is shown in Fig. 1 with the auxiliary support 15 tilted backwardly in an angular position in which the reading matter of the book 17 supported thereby is most easily visible. From this position said last-mentioned support may be swung into the vertical position shown in Fig. 3 and thence into the collapsed or folded position indicated by the dot-and-dash lines of the same figure. In this folded position the auxiliary support serves as at least a partial protection for the one, two or more books resting upon the base 1, as well as for the book carried directly by the support.

It will also be noted that in this position the flange 14 extends downwardly parallel with and in relatively close relation to the rear portion of the books 6 and 7, or other articles resting upon said base, thus operating to still further reduce and limit possible lateralmovement of said books or other articles, as when the device and its contents are placed in or are taken from a valise, and when a valise containing them is promiscuously' handled as in the usual course of travel. Thus, the device comprises both a convenient and inexpensive form of holder for the books of students and others when such books are in use, and a container for such books and other articles when not 1n use and stored or packed away and being carried from place to place.

It is also to be noted that this device is adaptable for use in various teaching methods. For instance, a child in studying geography is frequently called upon to sketch in the same, enlarged, or reduced size, the outline, topography, or other details of a given continent, country, State, or the like, in order to, better fix such details in his mind. In such cases the original representation of the geographical division or subdivision may be inserted between the flanges 16 of the auxiliary support 15, while the blank paper, book, or the like, upon which the reproduction is to be made may be inserted between the flanges 2, 3, 9 and 10 of the base portion 1 of the device. Such a use of the invention but suggests the many others to which it may be adapted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A lap board, comprising a base section adapted to support an article, the laterally opposite ends of said base being reversely bent and adapted to receive portions of such article beneath them, a flange at the forward portion of said base to limit the movement of an article in that direction, a flange at the rearward portion of said base to limit the movement of an article in that direction, an auxiliary section the opposite edge portions of which are bent reversely and adapted to receive portions of a second article beneath them, a flange upon and extending angularly with respect to the normal lower edge portion of said last section, and a hinge connection between the free edge portion of the rear flange of said base and the lower flange of said auxiliary section, said hinge connection substantially spacing said rear and lower flanges, said auxiliary section being foldable into aposition adjacent to said base section in which position said lower flange operates to limit the rearward movement of an article upon said base section.

2. A lap board, comprising a base having its laterally opposite edge portions reversely bent to form retaining flanges, adapted to receive beneath them the cover boards of one or more books, the forward edge portion of said base being turned upwardly to prevent such book or books from moving forwardly, the rear of said base being also bent upwardly to limit the movement of such book or books rearwardly, and an auxiliary holder having an angular extension hingedly mounted upon said rear flange and adapted to support an article in extended relation with respect to said base, or to be folded downwardly adjacent to and as a protection for the book or books upon said base, when said holder is in folded position, said extension approaching said base and further restricting the possible rearward movement of the book or books upon said base.

3. A lap board, comprising a base section adapted to support an article, a flange at the forward portion of said base to limit the movement of an article in that direction, a flange at the rearward portion of said base to limit the movement of an article in that direction, an auxiliary section, a flange upon and extending angularly with respect to the normal lower edge portion of said last section, and a hinge connection between the free edge portion of the rear flange of said base and the lower flange of said auxiliary section, said hinge connection spacing said rear and lower flanges, said auxiliary section being foldable into a position adjacent to said base section in which position said lower flange operates to limit the rearward movement of an article upon said base section.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. I

HENRY HARRISON. 

